19th Aug 2014 07:48
LONDON (Alliance News) - Rail firms Serco Group PLC, Stagecoach PLC, First Group PLC and Go-Ahead Group PLC were all shortlisted Tuesday as the UK government revealed its lists of bidders for two railway franchises in the North of England.
The UK Department For Transport shortlisted Abellio Northern Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Dutch rail firm Abellio and Serco, Arriva Rail North Ltd, which is owned by Germany's Deutsche Bahn AG, and Govia North Ltd, a joint venture between Go-Ahead and French rail firm Keolis, for the Northern franchise.
It also shortlisted Keolis and First Group joint venture First TransPennine Express Ltd, a separate joint venture between Keolis and Go-Ahead called Go-Ahead Ltd, and Stagecoach's TransPennine Express Trains Ltd, for the TransPennine Express franchise.
Both franchises are set to be awarded by October 2015 and are due to start in February 2016, and the bidders will be required to show how they will capitalise on the government's planned rail investment porgramme if they are to win the franchises.
The government is set to spend GBP1 billion in the next five years on the rail network in the north of England, including GBP600 million on the Northern Hub project and electrification projects on the North-West and TransPennine routes.
The franchises, which run between cities including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and up into Scotland, are set to run for seven to nine years, with possible extensions.
"We look forward to reviewing the contract details and submitting a compelling and value for money bid which meets the needs of taxpayers as well as customers and businesses along the route," said Vernon Barker, Managing Director for UK Rail at FirstGroup. FirstGroup currently holds the TransPennine franchise, having originally been awarded the contract in 2004.
"We are delighted to have been shortlisted by the Department for Transport to submit our proposals for such an important part of the UK rail network at a hugely exciting time for the region. Passengers can look forward to faster journeys, better connectivity and significant investment," said a spokesman for Stagecoach.
By Sam Unsted; [email protected]; @SamUAtAlliance
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